The Joseph Yoga Blog

Happy New Year! May we all have a year of joy and breakthroughs and growth! Here is some wisdom from Dolly Parton’s latest album “Backwoods Barbie” available on iTunes! It’s a song that I think sums life all up! Let’s get to living in 2010!

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“Better Get To Livin’” by Dolly Parton

People always comin’ up to me and askin’
“Dolly, what’s your secret?
With all you do, your attitude
Just seems to be so good
How do you keep it?”
Well, I’m not the Dalai Lama, but I’ll try
To offer up a few words of advice.

You better get to livin’, givin’
Don’t forget to throw in a little forgivin’
And lovin’ on the way
You better get to knowin’, showin’
A little bit more concerned about where you’re goin’
Just a word unto the wise
You better get to livin’.

A girlfriend came to my house
Started cryin’ on my shoulder Sunday evening
She was spinnin’ such a sad tale
I could not believe the yarn that she was weavin’
So negative the words she had to say
I said if I had a violin I’d play.

I said you’d better get to livin’, givin’
Be willing and forgivin’
Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine
Until they come true
And you better get to livin’.

Your life’s a wreck, your house is mess
And your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and under paid, under appreciated
I’m no guru, but I’ll tell you
This I know is true.

You better get to livin’, givin’
A little more thought about bein’
A little more willin’ to make a better way
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you’ll get to livin’.

The day we’re born we start to die
Don’t waste one minute of this life
Get to livin’
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter.

Better start carin’
Better start sharin’
Better start tryin’
Better start smiling
And you better get to livin’…

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HAPPY NEW YEAR AND NEW YOU!

VISIT JOSEPHYOGA.COM AND LEARN HOW YOGA CAN GET YOU TO LIVING!

Do you remember the movie Christmas Carol? Ebenezer Scrooge is an old lonely miser and after a night with some angels he realizes that focusing on money and the material world doesn’t bring him happiness. He realizes that he only receives a small amount of light from taking and hoarding and that real joy comes from giving. This story is as applicable and accurate today as it ever was. I always remember the story Oprah Winfrey told about her Christmas Day project in Africa where she gave the poor children gifts on Christmas Day. She said it was the greatest joy she had ever known. We are all after joy but we are tricked. We think to get joy we must receive it and receive things. Makes sense but the laws of this world dictate that joy can only come by moving closer to the light which happens only when we become like the light through sharing. It’s counter intuitive! RECEIVING WILL NEVER GIVE US THE JOY THAT SHARING CAN ULTIMATELY GIVE US.

Today, may we all wake up on Christmas Day with joy and appreciation and ready to love and share like Ebenezer Scrooge! We have a second chance! We have another chance! Merry Christmas to the whole wide world! No matter what has happened we can fix it. No matter what went wrong we can go in the other direction! We can have peace on earth and find true peace in our lives…..

Merry Christmas!

Dear Yogis
I wanted to tell you all Happy Holidays and how grateful I am to know you. No matter what our differences are lets try extra hard to be kind and gentle and practice human dignity in the next year. I love you all and please look at our retreat photos from our summer retreat in Santa Barbara! It was incredible! The pictures are finally here! Next retreat coming in the summer 2010! Stay tuned! Happy Holidays!

NEW RETREAT PHOTOS!
Namaste,
Joseph
JosephYoga.com

The opposite of within is without

Oh Mother Nature I am thirsty for your tonic
That can make me whole and make me free.
Dear Child of God the sun is upon it
But I have nothing to give to thee.

Oh Father and Mother I beg for your image
That can turn me into golden wings
Dear Child of God the birds are in heaven
And I have nothing to bring.

Oh Vocation I give you my blood and sweat
That can make me feel worthy to be
Dear Child of God your work is not met
And still we have nothing sadly.

Oh Great Other Half, I give you my time on earth
That conquers illusions I feel.
Dear Child of God what have you heard?
I never ever offered what’s real.

Oh Master of the Universe I give you my prayers
That can give the direction I seek
Dear Child of God it’s there to dare
But even I have nothing but Me.

Oh Internal Me, my Soul of my chest
Is there anything at all to do?
Dear Child of God it’s always been said
Your Love is here waiting for you.

Science and the U.S. Constitution are the swords of Spirituality. They
reveal the truth and force the “mixed multitude” to see it, acknowledge it
and accept it.